Marty Freeman

We are impressed with the scenery in Zion National Park. Weeping rock really appears to weep due to water migrating through sandstone and shale until seeping out on the surface. The Temple of Sinawava was named for the Coyote-spirit of the Paiute Indians and hosts small wildlife such as birds, frogs, gophers,and lizards. We hiked along the Virgin River to the spectacular Zion Narrows gorge viewing towering vertical rock sides of the canyon. The Narrows were carved by the river in ancient times and are today characterized by soaring walls, sandstone grottos, natural springs, and hanging gardens. This hike gave us the feeling of being inside a "slot canyon".... read more

Departing the Grand Canyon we see and visit Desert View Watchtower, Marble Canyon, Navajo Steel Arch Bridge over Colorado River, Vermillion Cliffs , and we begin to learn about Bryce Canyon National Park.... read more

Today we met our guide Mark Wheeler and we tour Joshua Tree National Park. Mark explained how the large boulders piled around the Joshua Trees were formed - geogolically. We had a sandwich lunch in whatever shade we could find this was the hottest day so far.... read more

Today we left Yosemite and drove to Bear Mountain Pizza to pick up our "step-on" Peter Hickey and have lunch, then on to Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park. Peter led us through the sequoia trees to see the General Sherman Tree.... read more

Today, John and I flew to SFO and joined our Road Scholar/Elderhosgtel coach tour, National Parks of the West at the Doubletree Inn in Burlingame CA. We met our tour leader, Marcia Burns, and Geri Bentley,our coach driver. We have 24 people in our group which gives us extra room in the coach. Introductions were made, we had dinner, and went to bed for an early start in the morning. Yes it's now July 13, 14, 2013 and I'm entering our recent trip to National Parks of the West now. It took me this long to get ready to publish the Travelblog. We did enjoy this trip and had a change of scene and relaxed.... read more